Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-07-21
PROHI3IrtOE.

80 " VIC diHlOot revolutionary over one nun
dred business houses were to be closed.
Nearly Ave hundred men were to be forced
TO give up chosen employment. The city
treasury was to be left with forty thousand
dollars less revenue. Trade amounting an
nually TO millions was to be turned away from
this city. Many large business houses we're
10 be left unreated. OF course, movement
proposing measures SO radical met with the
most spirited and determined opposition.
Many Of our best citizens regarded it with
outspoAen disfavor.
1t was said that prohibition In city so
large as this was impracticable, that it would
not prohibit, that the trade would be injured,
that taxes would be increased, that the stores
in which the liquor business was carried on
would not be rented for other purposes, that
the same amount of whisky would be drank
with the law as without ii, the city would only
miss the revenue, that it W, ud be a death
blow to Atanta's progress.
1t has been eighteen months since the cleo
ton and twelve months since the law went in
to effect We are prepared thus flom obser-
Walton TO note results.
Prohibition in this city does prohibit.
The law is observed as well as the law against
carrying concealed weapons, gambling theft
and other offences Of like character. lftherc
had been as many people in favor ofcarrying
concealed weapons, theft, gambling, etc, as
there were in favor of ardent spirits, twelve
months ago, law against these things would
not have been carried out as well as it was
against the liquor trade. In consideration OF
the small majority with which prohibition was
carried, and the large number of people who
were opposed TO seeing it prohibit the law
has been marvelously well observed.
Prohibition has not injured the city financi-
ally. According to theassessors' books prop
erty in the city has increased oYer two MILL
ons of dollars. Taxes have not been increas-
ed. Two streets in the city, Decatur and
Peters, were known as liquor streets. 1t was
hardly considered proper for a lady to walk
these streets without an escort. Now they
are just as orderly as any in the city. Prop
erty on them has advanced from 10 to Is per
cent The loss Of forty thousand dollars rev.
enue, consequent on closing the saloons, has
tended in no degree to impede the city's pro-
gress in any direction Large appropriations
have been made to the waterworks, the pub
| lie school, the Piedmont fair and other inn
provements. The business men have raised
| 100000 to build the Atlanta and Hawk
nsville railroad. The number of city banks
is to be increased to five. The coming of
four new railroad has been settled during the
year. Fifteen new stores containing house
furnishing goods have been started since pro-
hibiton went into effect. These are doing
well. More furniture has been sold to me-
chanics and laborng men in the last twelve
months than in any twelve months during the
history Of the city. The manufacturing estab-
lishments CT the city have received new life
A glass factory has been built. A cotton
seed oil mill is being built worth $4,000
All improvement companies with a basis in
real estate have seen their stock doubled in
value since the election on Prohibition.
Stores in which the liquor trade was con-
Quoted are not vacant but are now occupied
by other lines Of trade. According to the
real estate men more laborerS and men lin
tied means are buying lots than ever before
Rents are more promptly paid than formerly
More houses are rented by the same number
OF families than heretofore. Before prohibi
ton, sometimes as many as three familie,
would live in one house. The heads of those
families now not spending their money fol
drink are each able to rent house, thus using
three instead of one. Working men who form
erly spent great part Of their money for liq-
uor, now spend it in food and clothes for thei
families. The retail grocery men sell NOR,
goods and collect their bills better than evel
before. Thus they are able to settle more
promptly with the wholesale men.
A perceptibe increase has been noticed il
the number Of people who ride on the stree
cars. According to the coal dealers, man,
people bought coal and stored it away las
winter who had never been known to do ST
before. Others who had been accustomed
to buying two or three tons on time, this las
winter bought seven or eight and paid casl
tor ii. A leading proprietor of mi!liner,
store said chat he had sold more hats anc
bonnets to laboring men for their wives an(
daughters than before in the history Of hi
business. Contractors say their men do bet
ter work, and on Saturday evenings, whei
they received their weeks wages, spend tn,
same for flour, hams, dry goods, or other nee
essary things tor their families. Thus the,
are in better spirits, have more hope, and ar,
not inclined to strike and growl about hghe
wages.
Attendance upon the public schools ha
increased. The superintendent of public in
struction said IN his report to the board o
education, made January LIST, 1887:
during the past year it has become sub
ject of remark by teachers in the schools anc
by visitors, that the children were more tidy
were better dressed, were better shod, an,
presented neater appearance than ever be
fore. Less trouble has been experienced il
having parents purchase books required b.
the rules, fewer children have been withdraw
to aid in supporting she family, the highe
classes in the grammar schools have bee
J fuller, and more children have been promote,
7 to the high schools, both male and female
; than ever before in the history of the school,
, All these indications point to the increases